Published on: Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Image: 2026 Citizen of the Year Award winners with Tanya Richardson, City of Swan Mayor
The Community Awards recognise people and groups who make life better in education, health, fundraising, volunteering, business, sport, the arts, the environment, social inclusion or any other area that makes life better for others.
There are four categories:
• Community Citizen of the Year (16 years and over)
• Young Community Citizen of the Year (16 to 30 years)
• Senior Community Citizen of the Year (65 years and over)
• Active Citizenship (groups or event).
City of Swan Mayor Tanya Richardson said the people who most deserve recognition are often the ones who never ask for it.
“Those who don’t ask for thanks and don’t think about accolades are often the most deserving in our community,” Mayor Richardson said.
“If a local champion springs to mind, please put them forward. A nomination could make a huge difference to them. Whether they’re a nominee or a recipient, we can all celebrate their contribution, because we’re all part of the story.”
The City is especially keen to see nominations for young people aged 16 to 30 and seniors aged 65 and over.
Nominating takes about 15 minutes online. Nominators describe what the person or group has done for the community and how they have shown leadership, in about 50 words each. One nomination is enough, and nominators can choose to stay anonymous.
To be eligible, nominees must:
• Be nominated by someone else
• Live or be active in the City of Swan
• Not be a sitting member of local, state or federal government
• Have made a positive, apolitical and community-focused contribution.
Last year’s recipients were:
• Steven Bertoli, Community Citizen of the Year, for his outstanding 40-year contribution to the Swan Athletic Sporting Club, where his leadership as President has strengthened youth development, inclusion and community engagement across multiple sports
• Georgina Rogers, Young Community Citizen of the Year, for her commitment to the Ellenbrook Falcons and Harlies Falcons Hockey Clubs, where she coordinates four women’s teams and supports players of all ages
• Graham Cox, Senior Community Citizen of the Year, for his leadership with Swan City Youth Service Inc, where he develops and delivers the Kadadjing Circle program
• Ballajura Youth Committee, Active Citizenship, a youth leadership group making a major impact in youth engagement, arts and culture, and public service.
Nominations can be made online at www.citizenshipawards.com.au before the deadline of Saturday, October 31, 2026.
The City of Swan presents the Auspire Community Citizen of the Year Awards each year.
Recipients are announced as the City's citizenship ceremony on Tuesday, January 26, 2027.
There are four categories:
• Community Citizen of the Year (16 years and over)
• Young Community Citizen of the Year (16 to 30 years)
• Senior Community Citizen of the Year (65 years and over)
• Active Citizenship (groups or event).
City of Swan Mayor Tanya Richardson said the people who most deserve recognition are often the ones who never ask for it.
“Those who don’t ask for thanks and don’t think about accolades are often the most deserving in our community,” Mayor Richardson said.
“If a local champion springs to mind, please put them forward. A nomination could make a huge difference to them. Whether they’re a nominee or a recipient, we can all celebrate their contribution, because we’re all part of the story.”
The City is especially keen to see nominations for young people aged 16 to 30 and seniors aged 65 and over.
Nominating takes about 15 minutes online. Nominators describe what the person or group has done for the community and how they have shown leadership, in about 50 words each. One nomination is enough, and nominators can choose to stay anonymous.
To be eligible, nominees must:
• Be nominated by someone else
• Live or be active in the City of Swan
• Not be a sitting member of local, state or federal government
• Have made a positive, apolitical and community-focused contribution.
Last year’s recipients were:
• Steven Bertoli, Community Citizen of the Year, for his outstanding 40-year contribution to the Swan Athletic Sporting Club, where his leadership as President has strengthened youth development, inclusion and community engagement across multiple sports
• Georgina Rogers, Young Community Citizen of the Year, for her commitment to the Ellenbrook Falcons and Harlies Falcons Hockey Clubs, where she coordinates four women’s teams and supports players of all ages
• Graham Cox, Senior Community Citizen of the Year, for his leadership with Swan City Youth Service Inc, where he develops and delivers the Kadadjing Circle program
• Ballajura Youth Committee, Active Citizenship, a youth leadership group making a major impact in youth engagement, arts and culture, and public service.
Nominations can be made online at www.citizenshipawards.com.au before the deadline of Saturday, October 31, 2026.
The City of Swan presents the Auspire Community Citizen of the Year Awards each year.
Recipients are announced as the City's citizenship ceremony on Tuesday, January 26, 2027.